Superman/Batman #77

[DC Comics, 7.3]

Jeffery Simpson:
The release of the recent Supman/Batman direct to video movie based on one of Jeph Loeb’s runs on the book reminded me of when Superman/Batman was a must read title. It was a great book because it combined the best of DC into a nice package for someone getting back into comics and with a Marvel background could dip his feet into. Since then the book seems to have lost its way and has been looking for a purpose. What it’s become now presumably is a place where short stories out-of-continuity focusing on either Superman or Batman or both can be told. Here it’s Supergirl and Damien Robin, and it’s cute and fun in the way that you’d imagine this most awkward of pairings could be. The book’s no longer a must read, but it’s certainly a “should read.”
[7]

Dan Faust:
I hate Damian Wayne. Hate him. He’s a self-important, snot-nosed little prick. Yes, I know that with Dick as Batman, they needed a cranky Robin. But the little bastard’s tried to kill Tim on numerous occasions. I can’t forgive that. However, I do love Supergirl, so I gave this issue a shot. I will say that it was fun seeing the dynamic of the Bat- and Super-family without the foundation of friendship and respect that Bruce and Clark have. Also, the punch line at the end of Damian having a crush on Kara was brilliant.
[7]

Chris Walsh:
I know that many others in the comics world, especially a lot of Batman fans, really dislike Damian Wayne. This kid is vicious, weird, dangerous, difficult, and possibly even straight-up bad, deep-down in his core. But I can’t help myself, I really enjoy the dynamic he has with most of the other heroic characters he interacts with. The core Bat-books have been all about him finding a place and learning to live with and work with his “family” and that’s been very good for the most part, but I have to say that it’s books like this one that provide some of the best moments with this character. Like the interaction between Damian and Stephanie in Batgirl, the team-up of the new Robin and Supergirl gives us a great opportunity to see two young crime-fighters from vastly different backgrounds, with vastly different personalities, interact in interesting ways as they work to get the job done. And , of course, with both Batgirl and Supergirl being teenaged girls, and Robin being an adolescent boy, the creators take advantage of that to provide extra humor, in this case coming from Dick near the end of the story. It’s a fun story that manages to tie in with other larger elements of the DCU without relying on those larger stories, and it was a good read.
[8]